Claude Lemieux’s brain is being donated to Boston University’s CTE research centre, his family said in a statement.
The former ice hockey player died by suicide at the age of 60 on Thursday, according to authorities, after serving as the Montreal Canadiens’ torchbearer before a playoff game earlier that week.
He played nearly 1,500 NHL games with six teams from 1983 to 2009 and was known for his hard-hitting style and ability to perform in big games while winning the Stanley Cup four times.
His family said it had given the Boston University CTE Center permission to publicly share any findings using Lemieux’s name, but said no conclusions should be drawn about any diagnosis.
In a statement released by his daughter Claudia Lemieux Bishop, the family said: “Claude dedicated his post-playing career to helping the next generation.
“By allowing his name to be connected to this research, we hope his life can contribute to greater understanding, more honest conversations and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.”
CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated trauma to the head.
It can only be diagnosed after death and has been associated with symptoms including memory loss, brain fog, aggression, mood swings and depression.
